The JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE officially opened today and welcomed its first guests. The long-awaited hotel is a cornerstone of the $2.5 billion L.A. LIVE sports, residential and entertainment district.

The 878-room property, which plans to be LEED-certified, shares space with the 123-room Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles and The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE in a unique 54-story tower, which is designed by Gensler and will be one of the tallest mix-use buildings in Downtown Los Angeles. The hotel and luxury condominium tower is owned by Los Angeles-based AEG, developers of the $2.5 billion/4 million square foot L.A. LIVE, and MacFarlane Partners.

Located directly across the street from The Los Angeles Convention Center, the combined 1,001-room property has been heralded as the perfect complement to one of the west coast’s largest convention facilities. On its first day of operation, the sold-out JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE will welcome executives and celebrities attending Pollstar Live!, the concert and live entertainment industry’s largest annual convention.

The JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE is the 45th property in the luxury brand’s global portfolio. JW Marriott consists of beautiful properties in gateway cities and distinctive resort locations in 19 countries. These elegant hotels cater to today’s sophisticated, self-assured travelers, offering them the quiet luxury they seek in a warmly authentic, relaxed atmosphere lacking in pretense. JW Marriott properties artfully provide highly crafted, anticipatory experiences that are reflective of their locale so that their guests have the time to focus on what is most important to them.

“This hotel epitomizes the best of the JW Marriott brand and matched with the energy of L.A. LIVE it stands to become a landmark hotel in this city,” said Javier Cano, general manager. “With everything from restaurants, clubs, venues to all of the events at STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, the GRAMMY Museum, Club Nokia Conga Room, and the state-of-the-art Regal Cinema Stadium 14 L.A. LIVE, the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE will be one of the most sought-after destinations for groups as well as business and leisure travelers.”

The 878-room JW Marriott Hotel is part of the downtown revitalization that began with STAPLES Center which opened in October 1999. It is located just a block from the Los Angeles Convention Center and walking distance to STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE and many other nearby attractions. Employing more than 600 associates, mostly from the local (or downtown) Los Angeles community, the hotel also provides a much-needed economic boost to the city. When The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE opens on March 15, the two hotels together will be staffed by approximately 700 employees.

In addition to state-of-the-art guest rooms, the hotel features 52 luxury suites, the most of any hotel in the city. Rooms and suites are contemporary with eclectic touches that include bold orange, lacquered cabinetry combined with deep chocolate accent walls and beautifully framed artwork inspired by California’s beaches. The JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE also offers some of the most spectacular views of Los Angeles.

The hotel is home to the newest dining destination in the city, L.A. Market, the signature, full-service restaurant created by acclaimed “Rock ‘n Roll” celebrity chef, Kerry Simon. Simon, who previously opened Simon LA and Simon Kitchen and Bar in Las Vegas, showcases his talents for creating simple yet exquisite California cuisine, sourced from organic, sustainable and local sources, to offer a culinary experience that showcases the city as a culinary capital of the world.

Guests can enjoy a drink and appetizers in the hotel’s wine bar and lounge, Glance, which is set in the midst of the hotel’s two-story lobby. A classic cocktail lounge, The Mixing Room, showcases traditional favorites with a contemporary flare in an intimate setting with floor to ceiling windows looking out on Nokia Plaza L.A. LIVE, while the Illy Coffee Bar offers the company’s famous Italian coffee, espresso and other beverages.

The JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE Gallery Collection offers 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space—three ballrooms, nine ancillary meeting rooms and three boardrooms. The proximity to the Los Angeles Convention Center combined with the variety of meeting space and number of rooms, the JW Marriott L.A. LIVE offers meeting planners an excellent option for convention headquarters.

To relax and rejuvenate, guests of the JW Marriott will have access to The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles’ 8,000-square-foot spa, located on the second floor of the hotel tower, which is Downtown L.A.‘s first full-service spa. The 4,000-square-foot JW Marriott fitness center, located on the second floor, offers state-of-the art fitness equipment. Guests who want to take in the California sun can relax by the rooftop outdoor pool and find refreshment at the pool’s bar, Ion.

L.A. LIVE features 13 restaurants and bars including Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, The Farm of Beverly Hills, Rosa Mexicano, Katsuya, ESPN Zone, Flemings Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, Rock ‘N Fish and Trader Vic’s. The development also houses some of Los Angeles’ most popular entertainment venues such as Club Nokia and Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge. For more information on L.A. LIVE visit www.LALive.com.